Winnipeg, Manitoba – A labour disruption at the Port of Vancouver is another blow to Canada’s canola farmers who rely on a functioning supply chain to export 90 percent of the canola grown in Canada every year. The work stoppage, involving approximately 650 members of the Grain Workers Union across six grain terminals, will have the effect of shutting down operations of bulk grain terminals at the Port.
“Canola farmers are focused on finishing harvest, but we continue to be plagued by issues that are beyond our control and challenge our ability to market our crops,” says Roger Chevraux, Chair of Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA). “In August we experienced a rail stoppage, which is just now recovering, in early September China announced an anti-dumping investigation on Canadian canola, and now our gateway to move canola to customers around the world is disrupted.”
With terminal movement grinding to a halt, elevators and canola processing plants in the country will quickly reach capacity and stop accepting grain deliveries. In turn, farmers lose the ability to sell their canola and manage their business cash flow needs. Beyond the farmgate, supply chain disruptions negatively impact Canadian agriculture’s ability to supply international customers and erode Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier in the global market.
“The Port of Vancouver is especially important in serving Canada’s canola customers, with nearly three-quarters of port exports shipped through Vancouver annually,” says Rick White, President & CEO of CCGA. “To be a dependable supplier in a globally competitive market, we need our supply chains to operate reliably.”
CCGA calls on the parties to come to an agreement and return to work. The association also asks the Government of Canada to take all necessary steps to avoid further damage to Canada’s canola industry, farmers, and the wider Canadian economy.